To promote the high-quality development of Shanghai's international cruise economy, lead the recovery and revitalization of the Asia Pacific cruise market, and actively participate in the global cruise economy’s competition and cooperation, Shanghai recently released the "Shanghai Action Plan for Promoting the High-Quality Development of International Cruise Economy (2023-2025)". On August 18, the Municipal Government Information Office held a special press conference to introduce the relevant content of the action plan.
The North Bund is known by the industry as the birthplace of the modern cruise industry in China’s Mainland. In the context of the recovery of the international cruise market, how will Hongkou give full play to its regional advantages and make good use of the North Bund as a resource to play a role in promoting the high-quality development of the cruise economy in Shanghai? Chen Shuai, Deputy District Governor of Hongkou District, was invited to attend the press conference and introduce relevant information.
Accelerating the Restart of the Cruise Market and Effectively Stimulating the Vitality of the Cruise Industry
The North Bund sits on a 3.2-kilometer golden waterfront line, enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Bund and the skyline of Lujiazui. The North Bund National Guest Center Cruise Terminal has now built one 20,000-ton berth and three 80,000-ton berths, which can accommodate three luxury cruise ships at the same time. It operates and manages the yacht shoreline and harbor, and can accommodate 50 yachts.
With the further recovery of outbound tourism and the accelerated recovery of the cruise market, which cruise routes will resume on the North Bund this year is undoubtedly the focus of much attention.
In March of this year, after 1,152 days, Shanghai once again embraced the regular operation of home-port cruise ships. China Merchants Yidun under the China Merchants Viking Cruise Line officially set sail from the North Bund International Passenger Center, launching an 8-day and 7-night southeast coast cultural tour (Shanghai-Zhoushan-Xiamen-Shenzhen). With the gradual resumption of outbound tourism, China Merchants Iton officially opened the 15-day Shanghai-Japan international route on June 18 of this year. In addition, Ocean Spectrum, the ultra-large luxury cruise ship under the Royal Caribbean International Cruise Line, will return to Shanghai in April 2024. During the May Day holiday next year, Ocean Spectra will embark on a 4-night-and-5-day to 7-night-and-8-day cruise vacation route from Shanghai to neighboring countries.
Since the resumption of sailing this year, the North Bund Cruise Port has received 5 cruise times, and it is expected to reach 12 by the end of the year. Next year, it is expected to receive 18 international cruise times and 13 visiting cruise times. The comprehensive recovery of cruise tourism will not only effectively stimulate the vitality of the cruise industry in Hongkou, but also further help the North Bund to become an important window to show the world the development of the Chinese path to modernization.
Heavily launching action plans to lead the high-quality development of the cruise economy
The municipal government has specified in the "Shanghai Action Plan for Promoting High-Quality Development of International Cruise Economy (2023-2025)" that the North Bund of Hongkou will focus on developing a shipping headquarters economy that operates in conjunction with boutique cruise ships, inland cruise ships, and leisure yachts.
To further promote the high-quality development of the cruise economy and build a cruise headquarters base and cruise economy center with international influence, Hongkou issued the "Three Year Action Plan for the High Quality Development of the Cruise Economy in Hongkou District (2023-2025)" in June of this year, which proposed four major goals for the development of the cruise industry in Hongkou, focused on building a high-end cruise hub port, a cruise enterprise headquarters base, a high-end cruise service environment, and an international consumption agglomeration area. We will continue to focus on 14 tasks, including cultivating the cruise design industry, developing the cruise service trade, improving cruise financial services, improving the cruise talent system, and promoting the upgrading of cruise consumption, to accelerate the agglomeration of high-end cruise service formats.
Besides, 20 special supporting policies for industrial development have been formulated for cruise headquarters enterprises, cruise design and research and development, high-end cruise routes, crew education and training, and other aspects.
Building a world-class waterfront area to provide international consumption scenarios
With the comprehensive development of the North Bund and the continuous construction of multiple major projects, the charm of the shoreline quality is blooming, and the level of functional supporting facilities is improving. Hongkou will fully implement the three-year action plan for the high-quality development of the cruise economy, rely on the construction of high-end cruise hub ports, continuously improve the port service level and surrounding radiation functions, integrate water tourism into Shanghai's urban development system, promote the river-bank linkage, and achieve the common prosperity of the port and the city.
In terms of building fashionable new waterfront landmarks, Hongkou continuously upgrades the functions and quality of the waterfront space, promotes the construction of carriers such as Rainbow Bridge, Rainbow Space, Riverfront Station, and North Bund Navigation Park, promote the combination of waterfront characteristic spaces, green leisure spaces, and artistic and cultural spaces, and build living, ecological, and landscape shorelines for citizens and tourists, becoming a world-class waterfront area with landmark guidance, cultural empowerment, and rich activities.
Furthermore, Hongkou will further leverage the location advantages as a downtown district and take advantage of the scenery, port, shipping, and commerce, to promote consumption, drive the economy, propel cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries, and provide international consumption scenarios for cruise tourists. On September 28, the North Bund Friendship Theatre will unveil its veil to the world, and a world-renowned musical will hold its domestic premiere here. On June 30 of this year, the construction of Huamao Center began, with an investment of 10 billion yuan to build 30 high-end "brand homes" with historical and cultural features. The cruise ships dock at the North Bund, and tourists can enjoy the high-quality resources of business, tourism, and culture on the North Bund.
In the future, the debut economy, night economy, and experience economy will shine brightly, which will meet the personalized and diversified consumption needs of cruise tourists, and help improve the quality and expansion of cruise consumption in Shanghai. Hongkou will also continue to build a fully functional national tourist resort and international consumption cluster, build a cluster highland for the cruise industry and an innovation highland for cruise ecology, and continuously lead the high-quality development of the cruise economy.